Laguna Beach, Calvary Chapel maintain pace in tight Orange Coast battle

LAGUNA BEACH- The Orange Coast League has proven to be one of the county’s most competitive races throughout the regular season and two of the teams fighting for the top spot continued to reinforce that theory Thursday.
    
Calvary Chapel goalie Ashton McKeown recorded 10 saves, while Laguna Beach goalie Kylie George had six saves, as the Eagles and Breakers played to a 0-0 tie at Laguna Beach.
    
“Laguna Beach is a good team that keeps its’ shape and they kept our girls hidden,” Eagles coach Joe Morris said. “At halftime, we told the girls to try and found the gaps in the defense a little faster and we moved the ball better in the second half. We just have to finish.”
    
Laguna Beach (7-5-5, 3-0-3), which is seeking to win the program’s first ever league title, is one point ahead of second place Godinez and two points ahead of both Calvary Chapel (5-5-7, 1-0-5) and Estancia. All four of those teams have four league matches remaining over the next two weeks.
    
“I was pleased with our structure, communication and unselfishness,” Breakers coach Bill Rolfing said. “The shots on goal in the first half were nice, but they have an outstanding goalkeeper and she made a couple of terrific saves.”
    
Led by senior Marina Paul and junior Melissa Chapman, the Breakers were on the attack early in the first half and their ability to connect passes in space led them deep into the attacking third on several possessions. But McKeown recorded five saves in the first 11 minutes of the match to help weather the early pressure.
    
“Ashton is a dynamic keeper and it’s nice to have her in the back,” Morris said. “She sees the field real well.”
    
The Breakers defense controlled the Eagles attack throughout the first half, as junior Sarah Hewlett led a defensive effort that didn’t allow the Eagles any sustained possessions in the attacking third.
    
“I can’t say enough about how well our defense played,” Rolfing said.
    
Calvary Chapel’s best scoring chance came on a free kick in the 33rd minute, but a shot by senior Katie Butler sailed over the crossbar.
    
The Breakers had two chances to take the lead in the final minutes of the half, but shots in the box by Paul and freshman Janie Crawford floated over the crossbar.
    
Laguna Beach nearly took the lead in the 47th minute, but McKeown produced a fully extended dive to her right to deny a shot by Breakers senior April Carlson.
    
The Eagles began to find room to attack the Breakers defense early in the second half, but George came up big in the 53rd minute, using both hands to swat away a free kick by Eagles senior Hayley Gonzales and diving on the loose ball to prevent a rebound scoring opportunity.

Calvary Chapel continued to produce sustained runs between the middle and attacking thirds throughout the remainder of the half, but could not capitalize as the Breakers backline stiffened.
    
Both teams had game-winning opportunities in the 78th minute. Off an Eagles corner kick, junior Kennady Rose managed to swing her foot at a loose ball as it bounced in front of the goal. But George dove on the ball just as Rose’s foot made contact with the ball to thwart to chance.
    
On the Breakers’ ensuing attack, Paul found an opening and uncorked a twisting line drive shot that curved just outside the upper corner of the far post.